MPA to undertake dredging for safe navigation

Panaji: Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) has initiated the process to undertake routine dredging of the navigational channel and the area around the berths. MPA officials estimate that maintenance dredging will cost around Rs 36.2 crore for the coming financial year.

The contract requires the dredging of approximately 2.5 million cubic metres of material from the port’s channels and berths, covering a range of sediment types including silt, sand, clay and hardened sand, as well as spilled cargo that has accumulated on the seabed.

Unlike capital dredging, which is undertaken to deepen the navigational channel, maintenance dredging is done to ensure that the navigational channel is safe for ships. “During dredging, the contractor may also encounter some small patches of compacted iron ore alongside unloading berths,” said an official.

Sources said that often boulders, spilled cargo, broken concrete pieces, debris from ships, including metal pieces and rubber tyres, accumulate on the seabed, which could hinder the movement of loaded cargo vessels and naval warships.

Once the contract is inked, MPA expects the dredging to take around 45 days, depending on weather condition.

As part of the routine dredging, a Side Scan Sonar analysis and soil investigation studies will be conducted.

Simultaneously, port authorities are also preparing to deepen their approach channel to accommodate capesize and panamax-size cargo vessels. With environmental clearances in hand, the port wants to dredge the approach channel from its current depth of 14.4m to close to 20m. MPA has sought funding from the Centre for the capital dredging.